Effectiveness and Implementation of a School-based Mental Well-being Intervention Among Adolescents of Bharatpur, Nepal

ConditionMental Health
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age11-19
SponsorUniversity of Aarhus

About this trial

The goal of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and assess the implementation of CROSS-MIND, a school-based mental well-being intervention for adolescents in Nepal. The study uses a Hybrid Type 1 mixed-methods design. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Does CROSS-MIND improve students' mental well-being, self-esteem, and behavioural and emotional outcomes compared with usual school activities? Is CROSS-MIND acceptable, feasible, appropriate, and delivered with adequate fidelity, and what barriers and facilitators influence its delivery by teachers?

For the effectiveness evaluation, classes of grades 6 to 10 in five schools in Bharatpur Metropolitan City will be randomly assigned to receive either the CROSS-MIND intervention or usual school activities. Students will complete questionnaires before and after the intervention. Students in intervention classes will participate in eight weekly storytelling and reflection sessions of approximately 90 minutes, delivered by trained teachers. Qualitative interviews and focus group discussions will also be conducted with selected students, teachers, school principals, and psychologists to explore experiences of the intervention and factors influencing its implementation.

Eligibility criteria

This trial accepts healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

Students enrolled in grades 6-10 in the participating schools

Students whose parent or guardian provides written informed consent

Students who provides written informed assent

Disqualifiers

None

Trial design

Design model

Parallel

Treatments tested in this trial

  • CROSS-MIND

    Behavioral

    CROSS-MIND is an eight-week, teacher-facilitated school-based mental well-being intervention. Students participate in one approximately 90-minute storytelling circle session each week. Sessions use structured storytelling, reflection, creative expression, group discussion, and peer-reflection activities. Major intervention areas include establishing a safe and supportive group environment; identifying and exploring common adolescent challenges; using narrative externalisation to separate problems from personal identity; reflecting on life experiences, strengths, and aspirations through Life River activities; identifying coping skills and supportive relationships; and consolidating learning through reflective writing, poetry or letter-writing and a closing celebration.

Treatment groups

1,060 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: CROSS-MIND InterventionExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: Regular School ActivitiesNo intervention 0 interventions

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Change from baseline in the mean mental well-being score after the intervention

The primary outcome, mental well-being, will be measured using Warwick-Edinburgh mental well-being scale. It uses a five-point Likert response scale and has a total score range of 14-70, with higher scores indicating better mental well-being.

Time frame
Baseline before intervention and endline within a week of intervention completion

Secondary outcomes

1

Change from baseline in the mean Self-Esteem score after the intervention

Self-esteem will be measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. It uses a four-point Likert response scale and has a total score range of 0-30, with higher scores indicating better outcome i.e. higher self-esteem.

Time frame
Baseline before intervention and endline within a week of intervention completion
2

Change from baseline in the mean depressive symptoms score after the intervention

Depressive symptoms will be measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire -adolescent version. It uses a four-point response scale and has a total score range of 0-27, with higher scores indicating worse outcome i.e., depressive symptoms.

Time frame
Baseline before intervention and endline within a week of intervention completion
3

Change from baseline in the mean anxiety symptoms score after the intervention

Anxiety symptoms will be measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 adolescent version. It uses a four-point Likert response scale and has a total score range of 0-21, with higher scores indicating worse outcome i.e., higher anxiety symptoms.

Time frame
Baseline before intervention and endline within a week of intervention completion
4

Change from baseline in the mean difficulty score after the intervention

Total difficulty will be measured using the Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire adolescent self-administration version. It uses a three-point response scale and has a total score range of 0-40, with higher scores indicating worse outcomes, i.e., greater difficulty.

Time frame
Baseline before intervention and endline within a week of intervention completion

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

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